The Utrecht fire department is deploying an electric vehicle from Germany. Why? The old fire truck is not allowed to enter the Utrecht environmental zone. It seems that the Green Deal madness is not going away. The first electric fire truck was recently introduced, costing one million euros. This truck has a battery that lasts only 1.15 hours. To top it all off, the fire truck is equipped with a diesel generator to extend the operating time.
Technical specifications and operating time
The electric fire truck is designed with a battery that allows it to operate for approximately 1 hour and 9 minutes. To ensure longer deployments, a diesel generator is integrated, which serves as a backup power source. If a firefighting operation lasts longer than the battery’s life, this can be a big problem. It will also be a big problem if the fire truck does not have time to charge sufficiently before the operation.
Questions about the environmental benefit
Although the vehicle is presented as an environmentally friendly solution, the presence of a diesel generator raises discussions about the actual environmental impact. Critics point out that the reliance on fossil fuels can reduce the overall efficiency and environmental benefits of such a vehicle.
Financial costs and efficiency
At a price of one million euros, an electric fire truck is significantly more expensive than traditional models. A conventional fire truck costs only half of what an electric model costs. The question remains whether the high acquisition costs and limited operating time justify the investment in this technology, especially if it is necessary to rely on a diesel generator for longer interventions.
The introduction of the first electric fire truck represents a step towards more sustainable technologies in the field of emergency services. However, the combination of high costs, limited battery life and the need for a diesel generator raises questions about the real environmental and economic efficiency of this solution.
Photo: Screenshot – youtube.com/watch?v=b_gnErjkzjk
